Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi has commented on the arrest of 40 #EndSARS protesters who invaded the Lekki toll gate last Saturday.
Dingyadi has said that ‘minimum force’ was used on the protesters. He justified the use of force saying that in order for the arrest to be orderly and to ensure that the protesters comply to directives, the policemen had to use force.
While speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday, February 16, he stated that the policemen were well positioned, equipped and well-informed that’s why they were able to contain the situation at Lekki toll gate.
In his words;
“This is the kind of things that we want to take place in any situation that we find ourselves. Like what you saw in Lekki, this is how it is supposed to be, they were fully equipped, well-uniformed and they were ready for the #EndSARS protesters. That was why we were able to contain the situation.
“Minimum force was used. People always say that the police use force but you forget the fact that for you to ask somebody to please move this side, please be orderly, you have to use some level of force, you have to use some minimum level of force to ensure that people comply with what you are saying. I’m not talking about shooting, I’m not talking about teargas, you have seen some people ask some people to go into (Black) Maria.”
Dingyadi also reacted to the claims that some of the arrested person’s were not protesters but passersby. According to him, the people making thses claims will not have been arrested if they weren’t at the toll gate.
He said;
“How will the police arrest you if you are not part of a situation? How will they see you to arrest you? If you are not in Lekki, why will they arrest you? They cannot pursue people on the street to arrest them.”
See video below;
The Police that were sent to the Lekki toll gate (last weekend) had vehicles& were well-kitted. What will it take for the Police across the country to be always this prepared? #SunriseDaily asks Mohammed Dingyadi (Minister of Police Affairs) pic.twitter.com/GfTptVy8y5
— Channels Television (@channelstv) February 16, 2021
